Have you ever thought of how different we all are? Our DNA is unique and is completely different from that of any other person. We know that families share common DNA, and even identical twins have minor differences. Don’t you find it strange that with all of the people on this earth, no two people have the exact same personality? Some are more alike than others, but each of us is unique. How creative our God must be!
I have been teaching at Pathway for over 30 years and have taught many students. I can attest that each one has been completely different. They each responded differently to praise, discipline, rewards, sad times, happy times, work, play, and our precious Lord. Each year, when I think I have faced every possible challenge, the Lord reminds me I still have a lot to learn.
All parents have been teachers since the day their children came into their homes. For those of us blessed to have more than one child, we also know that each one is different. No two of our children are alike, not even twins. What works for one doesn’t work for the other. We have had to teach them to eat independently, walk, use the potty, be brave, know when to cry and when to laugh, and work hard, among other things. Most importantly, our biggest responsibility is to teach them about the Lord through our examples and through His Word. (Deuteronomy 6:7-9) God gave us a unique gift when He gave us a child. God handpicked each child for his parents. What parents do with their special gift is in their hands. Will we be self-centered and do our own thing, or will we do what it takes to be the parent God wants us to be?
The disciples were also handpicked by Jesus. Each one was unique. Why didn’t He pick a better group? He could have picked twelve “Mary’s”, those that were blessed among men. Have you ever thought about who He picked? Jesus picked a thief, an impulsive man who needed to think before he spoke, a betrayer, a shy man, men who wanted to be first, and several whom we know very little about. Then He picked someone who was murdering Christians to be the greatest disciple and wrote many books of the New Testament. With His perfect wisdom, couldn’t Jesus have found a better crew?
Maybe that is the point. All He has are crooked sticks. The Lord had three years with these men to teach them and to show them the way. Although He is the perfect teacher and knows the hearts of those He is trying to teach, He uses the same techniques we should use when teaching others. Of course, He showed all the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (balance and self-control). We have access to those qualities, but we often choose not to use them. Many times, we are unloving and impatient toward those we are called to minister to. When the disciples bickered among themselves at the Last Supper, Jesus washed their feet. In Bible times, this was a demeaning task, usually performed by a servant. Jesus was teaching the disciples that their job was to minister. On that night, they had been arguing over who would be the greatest, and Jesus was teaching them that a believer’s job was to minister and to be a servant to all. He was reminding them that the first shall be last (Matthew 20:16). It is so hard to put others ahead of ourselves.
The disciples watched Jesus for 3 years as He ministered to the woman at the well, Zacchaeus the tax collector, the woman caught in adultery, Mary Magdalene, and many others. Jesus cared about people and loved them unselfishly. He was always gentle and loving to those who were hurting. They also listened to His messages as He taught, as no one else had, and they heard Him as He dealt with the Pharisees, who had put themselves above others. Jesus did everything perfectly. So why did He choose the disciples? They seemed so imperfect.
Well, He invited me to come to Him. I accepted the gift of His Son. I am so imperfect. Perhaps He chose crooked sticks because we are all misfits in our own way. The Bible is filled with people who have failed Him, but have been forgiven. Jesus shows His patience and love to Peter even after He denied Him 3 times. He tells Peter to feed his sheep, and He chose Him to preach at Pentecost, where 3,000 people were saved. At the crucifixion, all of the disciples deserted Him, running in fear. We are all crooked sticks, but our Lord gives us hope. We can follow Him and serve Him each day of our lives.
Isn’t it great that the disciples grew and became stronger? What changed them? After the crucifixion, all of the disciples became sold out for Jesus. Each disciple gave the rest of his life for the spread of the Gospel. Including Paul, twelve men changed the world for our Savior. Each man went into a different part of the world, and all were martyred except John, who lived in exile where he wrote the Revelation.
The cross was where Jesus died for our sins, and the empty tomb is the ultimate victory. Jesus’ resurrection is the answer that gives us the way to find purpose and meaning. His death and resurrection changed the disciples forever, and it can change us. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He is the perfect friend, and God is the perfect Father. I have never regretted coming to Jesus. My life changed forever for the better. Is it perfect? No, but it will be. He has made life on earth filled with purpose. Jesus came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). He came so that anyone who accepted Him as Savior could one day come to Heaven, but He also came so that our lives here would be filled with His purpose, bringing ultimate satisfaction.
If you don’t know Jesus as Savior, He has the answers. Is life going to be perfect? Of course not! But He will be there with you every step of the way. You can’t straighten a crooked stick, but God can use each one. He has a place and a purpose for you. Consider coming to meet the Savior today!
Dr. Worthington has five children and twelve grandchildren. She serves as Principal of Pathway Christian Academy in Goldsboro